by Scott YanowA year before he defected from Cuba, the great trumpeter Arturo Sandoval played with his Cuban band briefly in Los Angeles. A recording session took place that was released for the first time in 2001. Sandoval (who doubles on timbales) is in typically exuberant form with the music (five of the trumpeter's originals and Jobim's "Dindi") ranging from funky to straight-ahead. His sextet includes pianist Hilario Duran (who would become best-known for his work with Jane Bunnett's groups) and the rockish guitarist Jorge Luis Chicoy. A special treat is that Poncho Sanchez sits in on two of the six numbers, fitting in quite comfortably with the Cubans. This historic set (the only recording of Arturo Sandoval's last Cuban band) is full of fire and easily recommended to fans of the funkier side of Afro-Cuban jazz.